The filmmaker brought equipment to their house to film scenes for their short film in the garden. However, two of the six Deaf actors they had recruited dropped out last minute, requiring changes to the script. During filming, the inexperienced actors had difficulties ignoring the camera and staying in character. The following day, the filmmaker shot the credits scene of a birthday cake with candles spelling out "happy birthday". They reflected that for their next film, they would recruit actors with proper training to help shots go more smoothly and make better use of their limited filming time.

1. Development Diary – FMP Film – Week Five
Filming at the weekends
I broughtthe camera, mount shoulder, tripod, scriptand a storyboard to my
house. I wanted to film in my garden. I asked my Deaf friends to act in my film
and six people accepted. On Saturday morning, which was the day of filming, I
received a messagefromtwo of them saying that they could not come, as so
they dropped out last minute, I was absolutely furious becauseI had planned
everything and it was ruined. I was glad four of them still came to be in my
film. When I realised I was only going to have 4 actors instead of 6 I had to
change my script a little bit so I got rid of some lines and changed some of the
characters. Oneof my actors could play two different roles and I cut out one of
the other male characters.
In the afternoon, we had to wait for my friend to finish work and join in my
film. I wanted them to practice, warm up and break the ice before the filming
began becauseI didn’t want to them feel awkward or stiff during the filming. I
gave them two practice runs to improveand learn their lines, improve facial
expressions and body language too. When they started to feel more confident,
we moved out to the garden.
We used a real table, chair and drinks butI gave them one more practice to
use the things without filming as I wanted them to know the blocking and
whereto talk. After a final practice, we startthe filming. I did sometimes get
annoyed with them becauseI noticed that when they started acting, when
they were talking they kept looking at me above the camera. I told them to
look at each other when they wereacting and to ignore me and the camera. I
understand the actors struggled with the camera because they have never
experienced being filmed before.
I tried to tell the actors to calm down and to slow down and to act like they
normally would, but they didn’t. I was also stressed with the actors because
they were distracting each other which meant that a lot of time was wasted. I
keep telling them off but they won’t listen.
I was impressed with my camera skills because my shots are beautiful and
clear, like a proper movie. In the end scene wherethe stranger kills the girls, I
used fake blood that I made from flour, corn syrup and food colouring. I
poured over the actor’s neck and belly wherethe stab wound was. I used a real
kitchen knife and someof my friends freaked out because it was real but I
taught them how to pretend to stab and how to use the knifesafely.
I told them whatto do and when the character dies first, the murderer stabbed
him without using the knife and just pretended by going over behind the back

2. of the actor and stabbing the actor. They did so well and there were no
accidents with the knife because they wereall very gentle with knife.
I had lots of bloopers because they struggled and sometimes forgot the lines
and blocking. I decided to keep the bloopers because I want to show to my
audience and make them laugh. I like watching bloopers at the ends of films s I
thought my audience would too.
The next day, I filmed the cake for the credits. I put the cake in the middle of
the screen with bottle of wine beside the cake to show in my title that the film
is about a party. I was stressed with the knife because I wanted the knife to be
stabbed in the middle of the cake, but, the knife keep falling over so I decided
it was bestto leave it because I didn’t want to my candles run out. I was happy
with the cakebecause all the candles I boughtit on it and it looked good. I
used 13 candles, which spelt happy birthday.
Next time, when I create another shortfilm and I will ask my friend who are on
a performing arts courseto act becauseI want my characters to be
professional. I wantto useactors who can concentrate on lines, use
professionalfacialexpressions and body language. I would also need some
more time for filming because I was only filming for 3 and half hours because
one of my actors didn’tfinish work until 5:30 and so we startfilming at 6pm. I
wanted to start at 1pm to make surethere was plenty of time to film. Next
time, if the actors drop out last minute again, I will join in with the acting or ask
my friend other friend last minute.